which do you prefer and why?
I am 1650 all day
1650 is clearly the best, because it is balanced. I have seen too much of it, though.
KS is great and has much potential. Playable, but bugs are to be expected.
1650 plays the best. It has a great opening.
2950 struggles due to extremely fragile economies.
FA 1000 is really fun with the nation design. I wish we had more people willing to try for a neutral alliance.
I have never tried KS.
I like 1650 because I know it the best - after some 20 years of different games - the opening like John A. said is appealing
I like 1000 also because of the diversity of nation builds (teams) - I’d like a pure 3 way fight from the jump or an all neutral game maybe where regions collide - that could be fun -
I only played 2950 once as the white wizard and I was treated oh so rudely by the others - so I honestly I never went back though I would go back as the white wizard again -
I like variants like 2950 setup w/ 1650 armies/economies - that was a ton of fun -
but for the money I shell out it’s mainly 1650 and 1000 w/ my brothers and nephew…
jz
Fourth Age. The nation creation is just too much fun, and the action gallops wildly out the gate. But more than anything it’s the variety that keeps it fresh.
1650 is still amazingly playable after all these years - a real testament to its design.
Adam
I first started back in 1990 or 1991 and 1650 was the only thing going. My favorite games were early 1650 games before we all had internet and before we knew all the answers to the riddles and dragon encounters. That and a Gunboat NoDiplo game I was in with my brother. We split a team. After that we went to 4th Age and found it enjoyable, but we both eventually ran into real life stuff. I recently came back to the game and am enjoying Kinstrife. No dragons is nice, but curse squads typically start by turn 5 or so with major agent actions around turn 10. If one side hasn’t won the military aspect of the game by then, then it can be anyone’s game. Most of the games I have been in have only lasted about 15 turns though. Usually one side has at least one or two nations that are in terrible condition with little or no way to rebuild. I would have to say it is fairly balanced though, as victories between loyalists and usurpers seems to be close to 50%, from what I have seen.
I am enjoying kinstrife the most now, so I voted for Kinstrife.
Jeff